Oil well pump packing



H. F. JOHNS OIL WELL PUMP PACKING Nov. 12, 1946.

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-latentecl Nov. 12,1946

DIL WELL .PUMP PACKING Harry Johns, vKansas City, Mo., assignor to Velma V. Johns Application September 23, 1943, Serial No. 503,518

1 Claim. (C1. 286-31) This invention relates to rpumps of the character used for deep well pumping, and more particularly, to improved packing means for pumps of this type.

In deep well pumps the packing, for sealing the circumferential surface of the working vbarrel in its reciprocating travel within lthe pump often Wears rapidly due to sand and like abrasive suspended in the liquid being pumped. VThis necessitates frequent replacement of the packing. Since the pump Vis usually located at, or near the bottom of the well the resultant cost of removing the entire pump assembly, including the `pump tubing and `sucker rod string, is relatively high. To this cost must be added the loss in time and production during the period while the pump is inoperative.

'It is the primary object of this invention, therefore, to provide a pump embodying `means to automatically compensate for the wear on packing incident to operation ofthe pump.

A lfurther aim of the invention 'is .to 'provide va pump with packing on which a spring pressure is constantly maintained, and to embody mechM anism within the pump whereby the springs for applying the pressure may 'be reloaded atfwill from the surface of the well.

These and other objects =of the invention Ahave been accomplished with structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central, longitudinal, condensed section of the upper portion of a pump constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar condensed, sectional view of the lower end of the pump.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the pump taken on the line III--III of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line IV-IV of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line V-V of Fig. 1.

The pump comprising the instant invention is a long, slender, cylindrical unit without external protuberances to move freely through the casing of a well. and includes 'a lower head Il) and an upper head I2, which are joined by an outer cylinder I4. Lower head lil is provided with a reduced, externally threaded neck I engaging the upper end of a strainer I8, or the like, extending into the body of liquid to be pumped.

An inner cylinder 20, concentric with outer cylinder I4 and spaced slightly therefrom, is secured at its lower and upper ends to reduced portions of heads I0 and I2 respectively. A nipple 22 having a relatively small bore 24 is interposed in cylinder 20 ynear its lower end, and a second nipple 2-6 is interposed `in said cylinder nearer the upper end thereof.

Mounted for reciprocation within bore 24 of nipple 22 is a tubular working barrel 28 carrying a traveling valve 29 l-on its Vlower end, the latter comprising a seat 36, a ball 32, normally resting on the seat, and a perforated retainer ring '3'4 secured in any suitable manner within barrel 28 for limiting upward movementfof the ball relative to the seat.

As will be clear from Fig. 2, the upper end of nipple 22 is concaved to form a seat for the yadjacent end of a lower packing `sleeve 36 of sufficient thickness to iill the space vbetween barrel 28 and inner cylinder 2i). A similar upper packing sleeve 38 is positioned adjacent a'bearing collar 46, against which rides an adjusting sleeve 42 surrounding the working 'barrel 28. An expansion spring 44 interposed between packing sleeves v33 and 33, serves to compress the same to snug rfrictional Yengagement with "barrel 2 8.

Theupper end of working barrel '128 is joined 'by a nipple '45 with the lower end of a perforated cage 48 of a check valve 49, wherein is `mounted a ball 50 vnormally resting yon a seating ring 52 lwithin the cage. yA pilot rod 54, threaded into the upper end of cage At8, is rec-iprocably mounted in the bore `56 o'fupper head l2, `the latter being also provided with a plurality of longitudinal vducts 5B foi` passage of liquid from cylinder 20 into tubing 60 connected by a coupling -62 to a reduced upper end of head I2. A string of sucker rods 64, threaded into a socket 66 of rod 54 leads to the surface of the well and is connected to a pump jack or the like, in the usual manner.

Formed on lower head Ill at its uppermost end,

is a reduced, externally threaded neck for mounting the cage 66 of a standing valve 61 wherein is contained a ring seat 68 and a ball 10, normally resting on the seat. A short nipple l2 is threaded into the upper end of the cage 66 to retain the ball within the cage.

Within |the lower end of inner cylinder 20 and extending from lower head I0 into a threaded recess 69 of nipple 22, is a liner 'II spaced concentrically from the inner cylinder and from Working barrel 28 to form a chamber 13 for liquid entering the pump through an axial longitudinal bore 'I4 of head I0. Y

Referring again to lower and upper packing sleeves 36 and 38 respectively, these `sleeves should be formed of compressible material in order that reduction in cross sectional area of each sleeve incident to wear created by reciprocation of the working barrel therein, may be compensated for by reduction in the length of the sleeves through action of spring 44. In actual practice it has been found that sleeves 36 and 38 should be relatively long, as for example, eighteen inches or more.

Obviously, it would be impractical to employ a spring sufficiently long to maintain a substanltially uniform pressure on sleeves of such length throughout the period of their usefulness. For this reason, it is desirable to provide for periodically reloading spring 44 without necessitating removal of the pump assembly from the well.

A preferred structure for accomplishing the above result includes the adjusting sleeve 42 surrounding the upper end portion of working barrel 28. This sleeve is provided with a series of annular ratchet teeth 'I6 having upwardly facing lateral shoulders 18 for engagement by a plurality of pawls 80 located in slots 82 of nipple 26 and pivotally mounted therein on pins 84. A circumscrbing spring 86, clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, is mounted in an annular groove 88 of nipple 26 and contacts the plurality of pawls 80 to urge the same into engagement with the ratchet teeth 16. The upper end of sleeve 42 is adapted to bear against a lateral flange 9D on nipple 46.

Any suitable means may be employed for creating a sealed relation of the ends of outer cylinder I4 with lower and upper heads I0 and I2 respectively, as indicated, for example, at 92.

The operation of a pump constructed as described is as follows:

Upward movement of working barrel 28 -creates a vacuum in chamber 13 and liquid enters the chamber through strainer I8, bore 14, and standing valve 61. As the working barrel returns downwardly the standing valve is closed and ball 32 of traveling valve 29 is lifted from its seat `to allow iiow of liquid through working barrel 28, check valve 49, `and ducts 58 into tubing 60. Spring 44, initially loaded to exert a pressure of approximately two hundred pounds per square inch against packing sleeves 36 and 38 prevents return leakage of liquid around the outer face of working barrel 28. As the packing wears, spring 44 expands to maintain Ya perfect contact of the packing with the outer circumference of the working barrel.

After the packing sleeves have become Worn and consequently shortened to the extent that spring 44 is no longer capable of exerting sufcient pressure thereagainst, the weight of the isucker rod string is used to force adjusting sleeve 42 downwardly until the proper spring tension is again obtained, pawls 8U serving to retain the sleeve in adjusted position.

A pump has, thereforebeen provided having substantially automaticl means for maintaining its working barrel in properly packed condition. Moreover, it has been made possible to reload the spring, used for maintaining the packing in perfect contact with the working barrel, from the surface of the ground, thus eliminating much work, loss of time, and expense.

While only one embodiment of the pump has been illustrated and described, it is conceivable that modincations might be made thereof without departing from the spirit of this invention, and it is desired therefore, .to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Packing structure comprising a fixed tubular cylinder; a barrel reciprocably disposed within the cylinder; spaced apart packing sleeves between the cylinder and said barrel; a spring between said sleeves for urging the same against the inner face of the cylinder and the outer face of the barrel; an adjusting sleeve surrounding a portion of the length of the barrel, said adjusting sleeve having a series of annular ratchet teeth on the outer face thereof; a lateral projection on the barrel for engaging one end of the sleeve to urge the latter in a direction toward said spring to compress the latter; and a series of pawls pivotally attached to the cylinder for radial movement for engaging the said teeth to lock the adjusting sleeve against movement in a direction from said spring when the pawls are engaged with any of the teeth, said pawls being so attached to the cylinder as to have their lower ends free to swing radially toward and from the teeth on said adjusting sleeve, said pawls having a split annular spring circumscribing vthe series thereof for drawing the same against the teeth of the adjusting sleeve.

HARRY F. JOHNS. 

